London Shangri-La Hotel Set to Open in The Shard

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Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts is set to open its first London hotel in The Shard.

LONDON—Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts will open Shangri-La Hotel At The Shard here May 6.

Located on the South Bank of the River Thames in the 1,004-foot-high, glass-clad Shard, the hotel will be the Hong Kong-based luxury hotel group’s third in Europe, following debuts in Paris in 2010 and Istanbul in 2013.As the tallest hotel in Western Europe and the first high-rise hotel in London, the Shangri-La occupies levels 34 to 52 of the 72-story Shard. Its contemporary interior design complements Renzo Piano’s architecture with views in all directions showing landmarks such as St. Paul’s Cathedral, Tower Bridge and the Houses of Parliament.

“Our continued expansion in Europe reflects the growth opportunities for the brand and portfolio,” stated Shangri-La President/CEO Greg Dogan. “The Shard is a landmark synonymous with London and we hope to encourage visitors to our hotel and the surrounding area. We are truly excited to be an integral part of the ongoing development of the South Bank community and the borough of Southwark.”

Guests will take a high-speed elevator from the hotel’s entrance on St. Thomas St. to the sky lobby on level 35. Asian touches in the lobby and lobby lounge will reflect Shangri-La’s heritage, while modern and classic art, with pieces from a mix of Asian and British artists, will be showcased throughout public areas.

The hotel’s 202 guestrooms and suites will open from levels 36 to 50 and will be among the largest in London, according to the company. Because of The Shard’s spiral shape, each of the guestrooms and suites, which range from 323 to 2024 sq. ft., is individual in layout and design. All feature floor-to-ceiling windows and views across the city, marble-clad bathrooms with heated floors, separate bathtubs, Acqua di Parma amenities and mirrors with integrated television screens. More than a third of the bathrooms will have city views.

Deluxe, Premier and Grand Premier guestrooms and suites offer northerly views toward the city and London’s landmarks. Superior guestrooms and suites feature views of the south and toward the counties of Kent, Surrey and Sussex.

Three signature suites will be unveiled in September. All signature suites overlook St. Paul’s Cathedral, Tower Bridge and down river toward the O2 Arena. The Shangri-La Suite, situated on level 39, will provide 180-degree views of London.

The hotel will feature three dining venues: GŎNG, London’s highest bar on level 52, takes its name from "dougong," an ancient Chinese structural element of interlocking wooden brackets that will be a component of the bar’s interior; TÎNG, derived from the Chinese word for a living room, is the signature restaurant and lounge on level 35; and LÁNG—the Chinese word for pathway—is an artisan deli on the ground floor.

Level 52 will also be home to a 24-hour gym and London’s highest infinity pool, and along with GŎNG, level 52 will open July 1.

“We are thrilled to be opening our doors in May after a number of years of planning and preparation,” stated Darren Gearing, EVP/hotel general manager of Shangri-La Hotel At The Shard, London.

HX: The Hotel Experience Has Its Own Story to Tell
The Hotel Business team just returned from this year’s HX: The Hotel Experience, which was held in New York City at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. As we usually do post-event, we talk amongst ourselves about trends we noticed at the show, held in conjunction with BDNY. And while the latter—and now larger—show was abundant with design trends (let’s just say blue seemed the prevalent color; bold, geometric forms the dominant shape; and metallics a common thread…pun intended!), the more traditional “hotel” side of the convention center had its own story to tell.